NFU Opposes Ban on Direct Advertising of Antibiotics

UK - The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) invited the National Farmers Union (NFU) to respond to their proposed changes to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) 2010.
calendar icon 13 September 2010
clock icon 2 minute read

Every year, the VMR are reviewed through a process of open consultation and Ministerial approval, with the process facilitated and managed by the VMD. Amendments can include anything from changes to the primary legislation to fee structures for inspections. This year, 20 amendments were proposed with the majority having little or no potential impact on farmers.

The first of the amendments, however, has caused great concern amongst NFU members: this proposal was to prohibit the direct advertising of antibiotics to farmers with a suggested benefit of reducing the potential of antibiotic resistance developing.

NFU does not agree with this proposed amendment and have been very strong in our response.

There is another proposed amendment, though, which NFU has welcomed: this is the creation of a voluntary accreditation system for online veterinary pharmaceutical sites. The details are still to be worked out but NFU have lobbied for several years that this is an area which needs some attention in order to protect farmers from unknowingly buying illegal veterinary medicines online.

Further Reading

- You can read the NFU's full submission to VMD by clicking here.
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